# Law 16: Maul (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 16: Maul · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-16-maul/)

How a maul forms, offside at a maul, joining and playing in it, and how it ends.

## 16.161 Forming a Maul and Offside

What a maul is, where it can happen, its direction and the offside lines.

### Test 1: Forming a maul and offside

- A maul lets players compete for the ball, which is held off the ground. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16, Principle)
- A maul can take place only in the field of play. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.1)
- A ball-carrier and at least one player from each team, bound together and on their feet. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.2)
- A player ripping the ball must stay in contact with the carrier until they have transferred the ball. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.2)
- Once formed, a maul must move towards a try line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.3)
- It runs through the maul participants' hindmost foot nearest that team's try line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.4)
- Players who leave a maul must immediately retire behind the offside line; they may rejoin. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.6)
- Carrier, a team-mate and an opponent, all standing and bound: a maul. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.2)
- Carrier, an opponent and a team-mate, bound and upright; then it must head for a try line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.2-3)
- Leavers must retire at once and may rejoin from onside. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.6)

## 16.162 Joining and Playing in a Maul

Binding on the hindmost player, the ball-carrier's duties, and defenders leaving and rejoining.

### Test 1: Joining and playing in a maul

- Joiners come from onside and bind on to the hindmost player. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.7b)
- Heads and shoulders no lower than the hips when joining. Sanction: free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.7c)
- The carrier may go to ground provided the ball is made available immediately; otherwise a scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.8)
- A player in possession must not slide or move backwards in the maul. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.10)
- Pulling or dragging an opponent out of a maul: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.11b)
- When the team without the ball intentionally leaves completely, the maul continues. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.12)
- The first to rejoin must bind on the frontmost player of the team in possession. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.13)
- Joining players must bind on to the hindmost player in the maul. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.7b)
- The maul continues; the first defender back binds on the frontmost attacker. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.12-13)
- Scrum, free-kick, penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.7-11)

## 16.163 Ending a Maul

Stopped mauls, "use it", successful and unsuccessful endings, and the scrum after a direct catch.

### Test 1: Ending a maul

- The referee instructs the team to use the ball, which must then be used within a reasonable time. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.14)
- A stopped maul may restart towards a try line provided it does so within five seconds. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.15)
- A maul ends successfully when the ball or carrier leaves it, the ball is on the ground, or it is on or over the try line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.16)
- The maul ends unsuccessfully: scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.17e)
- A maul also ends unsuccessfully when the carrier goes to ground and the ball is not immediately available. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.17d)
- A player who is or was in the maul may not play an opponent near it trying to play the ball away. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.18)
- After a direct catch of an opponent's kick, a scrum for any of these reasons goes to the catcher's team. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.19)
- A maul that collapses, not through foul play, ends unsuccessfully: scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.17b)
- After a second stop, the ball must be used within a reasonable time. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.15)
- The catcher's team gets the scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 16.19)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 16 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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